Health411

Ouija boards were invented in 1891, claiming to be a tool used to communicate with the spirit realm. People would buy these boards, trying to reach a lost relative, or party-goers would want to see just who might answer. For over 130 years, groups have been crowding around the Ouija board, but research might have been able to debunk the notion that a spirit may be communicating through a person's body.

In today's episode of Health 4...

In 1974, Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Tommy John tore his ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his pitching elbow. Thinking he would never play again, team physician Dr. Frank Jobe performed the first-ever ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) reconstruction surgery on John, saving his career. This surgery is now known as “Tommy John” surgery.

In today’s episode of Health 411, Dr. Jonathan Karp and student producer Jacob Ro...

In 1974, Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Tommy John tore his ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his pitching elbow. Thinking he would never play again, team physician Dr. Frank Jobe performed the first-ever ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) reconstruction surgery on John, saving his career. This surgery is now known as “Tommy John” surgery.

In today’s episode of Health 411, Dr. Jonathan Karp and student producer Jacob Ro...

Cleidocranial dysplasia (CCD) is a rare genetic condition that affects how bones and teeth grow, especially the skull, collarbones, and jaw. While research has been limited, it has recently been more discussed with help from “Stranger Things” star Gaten Matarazzo. It is one of the most rare genetic conditions that someone can have, with one in a million people having CCD.

In today’s episode of Health 411, Dr. Jonat...

Cleidocranial dysplasia (CCD) is a rare genetic condition that affects how bones and teeth grow, especially the skull, collarbones, and jaw. While research has been limited, it has recently been more discussed with help from “Stranger Things” star Gaten Matarazzo. It is one of the most rare genetic conditions that someone can have, with one in a million people having CCD.

In today’s episode of Health 411, Dr. Jonat...

The appendix is a small organ connected to the large intestine that, for many years, was believed to be a "useless" organ. However, research now suggests that the appendix may play a role in maintaining the body's microbiome and supporting certain immune functions. In some cases, the appendix can become inflamed, resulting in appendicitis; a condition that can become life-threatening if left untreated.

In today's episode of Health 4...

Our ears are a powerful tool we use every single day to perceive sounds and interpret vibrations as something we can understand. A major issue is that ears can be damaged pretty easily, and the damage can be permanent if we aren't careful. Whether it's prolonged loud volumes from headphones, or loud concerts, many factors can play into damaging ones hearing ability.

In today's episode of Health 411, Dr Jonathan Karp and student prod...

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a neurodegenerative disease that slowly breaks down the lining around the body's nervous system which weakens the body's internal signals. The longer someone with MS has it, the worse their symptoms get. There is no current cure for Multiple Sclerosis and no definitively known cause for the disease.

In today's episode of Health 411, Dr Jonathan Karp and student producer Dan Loges delve into discussion abo...

Roundup, a widely used herbicide, has been at the center of public debate for years. Concerns about its active ingredient, glyphosate, have led to lawsuits, scientific research, and ongoing discussions about its potential health risks, including whether it may be linked to cancer.

In this episode of Health 411, Dr. Jonathan Karp and student producer Dan Loges take a closer look at the science behind Roundup and glyphosate, examining...

Stress is something we all experience. Humans, animals, and plants alike all experience stress. But at what point does stress become detrimental to a person's mental and physical health?

Today, our host Dr. Jonathan Karp and producer Kaya Basatemur are joined by Mitch Webb, a Somatic Coach for stress and regulation of the nervous system. Mitch is a practitioner that specializes in helping identify various types of stress responses ...

According to the American Psychological Association’s (APA) “Stress in America” survey, in the last five years, approximately 75% of adults have reported physical or emotional symptoms related to stress. This is a percentage that has risen over the past few decades. This is especially troublesome for the Gen Z population, as the APA reports this generation as having the highest levels of anxiety. The main reported...

What is Physical Therapy?

Physical Therapy is a practice in the medical field that directly works with a wide range of patients from newborns to the aging population. Physical therapists treat patients with a variety of diagnoses that have resulted in functional deficits, such as strokes, injuries, chronic pain, mobility limitations, sports injuries, and so much more.

Today our host, Dr. Jonathan Karp, and our producer, Kaya Basatem...

Although these therapists are called "Speech-language" pathologists, they are trained to work with much more than just speech disorders. So, if speech-language pathologists don't just do speech therapy, what do they do?

Today, our host, Dr. Jonathan Karp, and student producer, Kaya Basatemur, are joined by Capital Health's own Marissa Maurin, a speech-language pathologist at Capital Health Hopewell. In this episode, Melissa talks ab...

What is Parkinson’s Disease? Is it just something you get when you’re older, or can it also happen before the age of 50? Today, Dr. Jonathan Karp and student producer Kaya Basatemur are joined by Lt. Commander Jessica Snyder, a retired member of the Coast Guard who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease earlier in life. Lt. Snyder discusses the environmental factors that possibly led to the onset of her early diag...

Occupational therapy is a specialized practice that sees patients after an injury, trauma, or surgery in order to help them regain the ability to carry out everyday tasks. Today on Health 411, Alan Newman, an occupational therapist from Capital Health, joins our host Dr. Jonathan Karp and student producer Kaya Basatemur, in a conversation all about occupational therapy. In this episode, Alan addresses questions such as, "what is th...

Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) is a chronic syndrome characterized by fast heart rate (30-40 BPM higher than resting heart rate), lightheadedness/dizziness, fainting, heart palpitations (feeling your heart beat in your chest), brain fog, exhaustion, shakiness, and anxiety. While these are the most prevalent symptoms, POTS varies greatly from case to case. Some people can experience only a few of these symptoms whi...

What is a state veterinarian? What are the responsibilities of someone in this position? Today Dr. Amar Patil, the State Veterinarian of New Jersey, joins our host, Dr. Jonathan Karp, and student producer, Kaya Basatemur to talk about what it means to be the State Vet.

As someone who is also part of the Department of Agriculture, Dr. Patil has some unique insights on what it's like to deal with widespread animal disease outbreaks, ...

What really counts as being exposed to nature? Is it being on a hike, camping out in the wilderness for days at a time, climbing mountains, or going out to sea? Griff Griffith, a renowned nature conservationist and nature interpreter, says it's much simpler than you might think.

Today, Dr. Jonathan Karp and student producer Kaya Basatemur are joined by Griff Griffith to discuss the role that nature plays in our daily lives-- from o...

At this day in age, it's not uncommon for children to own a mobile device, such as a tablet or cell phone. According to a 2024 census conducted by Common Sense Census looking at how many children own mobile technology by age group, they found that 47% of children aged 2-8 own tablets. Further, they recorded that by the age of eight, 23% of children own a cell phone. From 2017 to 2024, the screen time of children aged 0-8 have been ...